Transferring device for repositioning articles

ABSTRACT

A transfer arrangement ( 10 ) for gripping articles (at  60 ) comprises a central wheel body with a multiplicity of arms ( 20 ), which can be pivoted about a first axis ( 23 ) in each case, articulated along its periphery. The arms ( 20 ) have a gripper ( 60 ) for receiving in each case one or more articles ( 15 ). Each gripper ( 60 ) can be rotated about a second axis ( 33 ) for predetermined positioning of the articles, while the connecting body ( 30 ) can be rotated about the first axis ( 23 ). The rotary movement of the gripper ( 60 ), then, can be transferred to the gripper ( 60 ), rotating about the second axis ( 33 ), via a shaft ( 28 ) arranged along the first axis ( 23 ), with the aid of a transfer element ( 25, 26, 27 ). Finally, a third axis ( 43 ) is arranged on the connecting body ( 30 ), between the first and second axes ( 23, 33 ). This allows rotation of the connecting body ( 30 ) to be transferred in a controlled manner to the connecting body ( 30 ), at the location of the first axis ( 33 ), via a shaft ( 49 ) arranged along the third axis ( 43 ), with the aid of a transfer element ( 45, 46, 47 ). This means that articles ( 15 ) can be tracked.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

The invention described and claimed hereinbelow is also described inGerman Patent Application DE 10 2005 054 005.8 filed on Nov. 10, 2005.This German Patent Application, whose subject matter is incorporatedhere by reference, provide the basis for a claim of priority ofinvention under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Related Art

The present invention relates to a transfer device for gripping articlesfrom a first supply conveyor, which points in a first direction, andthen placing the articles on a second, removing conveyor, which pointsin a second direction, it being possible, in particular, for the firstand second directions to be at right angles to each other.

A number of devices of this type have been known from the related artfor a long time. For example, publication DE 25 51 538 disclosed adevice of this type, as described in the preamble of Claim 1. Thetransfer device described therein is designed to lift easily deformablepackaging articles from a first conveyor, and to deposit them, with thesame orientation, onto a second conveyor. A revolving system of suctioncarriages is used for this purpose, with which the suction devices thatgrip the packaging articles are rotatable by 90 degrees, so that theorientation of the packaging articles remains the same. The related artis designed to convey soap pieces. These pieces have relatively similardimensions in terms of width and length in the plane of the conveyors.

The device in the related art is less suitable for transportinglongitudinal or extremely long articles. “Longitudinal articles” areunderstood to be elements to be transported that have a ratio oflongitudinal dimension to transverse dimension of at least 4:1 or more,and, in particular, of 10:1 and more.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on the related art, the object of the present invention is toprovide a transfer device for gripping longitudinal articles that mayeasily compensate for the great difference in speed between a slowsupply conveyor and the subsequent removing conveyor.

When supplying longitudinal articles that are essentially transportedtransversely and that have a width of, e.g., 19 millimeters and a lengthof 152 millimeters, and which are transported 19 millimeters apart onthe supply conveyor and 38 millimeters apart on the removing conveyor,the speed ratio between the two conveyors is 38 to 190, i.e., 1:5.

The inventive transfer device includes a wheel with movable arms thatperform a tracking swivel motion of the connecting body to pick up,rotate, and deposit the products in a positioned manner.

A transfer device for gripping articles is preferably composed of acentral wheel body, on the periphery of which a large number of arms ishingedly connected, the arms being swivelable around a first axis. Thearms includes a gripper for picking up one article or several articles.Each gripper is rotatable around a second axis for a specifiedorientation of the articles, while the connecting body is rotatablearound the first axis. The rotational motion of the gripper istransferrable via a shaft located in the first axis with the aid of atransfer element to a gripper that rotates around the second axis.

In a first embodiment, a third axis is located between the first andsecond axis on the connecting body. This makes it possible for theconnecting body to perform a controlled rotation via a shaft located inthe third axis with the aid of a transfer element on the connecting bodyat the location of the first axis. This makes it possible to trackarticles.

Longitudinal articles that are supplied in a transverse position maytherefore be reoriented into a longitudinal orientation, e.g., forloading a horizontal tubular-bag machine. A high rate of throughput isattainable, e.g., 600 products per minute, and a removal speed of 100meters per minute is possible, because the great change in speed—whichresults from reorienting the longitudinal articles from “transverse” to“longitudinal” for an “in-line positioning” for a horizontal tubular-bagmachine—is bridged by the tracking arms.

A device of this type is excellently suited for transferringlongitudinal articles of this type.

Rotating by 90 degrees and depositing is often selected for practicalreasons, but it is not absolutely necessary. Angles of, e.g., 60 or 120degrees may also be selected, or angles between these values may beselected.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the transfer device with twelve armsaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the transfer device in FIG. 1, in anenlarged view, which shows the four arms in greater detail;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an arm in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an arm of the transfer device inFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the transfer device with twelve armsis according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the transfer device in FIG. 5, in anenlarged view, which shows the four arms in greater detail;

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of an arm in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an arm of the transfer device inFIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of transfer device 10 with twelve arms20 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Twelve arms 20 are movable in their horizontal plane, and they arehingedly connected to central wheel 11. Wheel 11 is rotatable around itsaxis, which is vertical in this case. The rotational speed may bevariable, although it is advantageously constant.

Articles 15 shown in FIG. 2 have been ordered. In this context, an“ordered” arrangement means that the longitudinal articles are locatedtransversely to the transport direction of the supply conveyor.Transport device 10 is capable of depositing the articles—fully orientedin their longitudinal direction—onto the removing conveyor, one afterthe other. Further details of arms 20 of first exemplary embodiment aredescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 2 through 4. The features that arethe same in all figures are labelled with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of transfer device 10 in FIG. 1, in anenlarged view, which shows the four arms in greater detail. Inparticular, receptacles 12 for arms 20 are shown on wheel 11. Arms 20are screwed tightly into receptacles 12. All of the rotational anddisplacement motions are controlled by drives and axles inside arms 20.

This is explained with reference to FIG. 3, which shows an exploded viewof a single arm 20 according to FIG. 1. Reference is also made to FIG.4, which shows a cross-sectional view of arm 20 of transfer device 10 inFIG. 1. Advantageously, all of the arms have the identical design.

The illustration presented in FIG. 3 shows fastening sleeve 21 of arm 20with one—in this case—of two fastening screws 22, with which fasteningsleeve 21 is attachable to central wheel 11. Fastening sleeve 21coaxially encloses an inner axis 23. An inner shaft 28 is also locatedaround this inner axis 23, which is close to the wheel. Inner shaft 28is connected as one piece with a lever 24, which is controlled by a cam.In this case, “inner” means that axis 23 is located close to wheel 11.

A first toothed ring 25 is fastened to inner shaft 28. A rotary motionof lever 24 is therefore transferred via first toothed ring 25 to first,internally toothed drive belt 26, which drives a second toothed ring 27.Toothed rings 25 and 27 have the same diameter. A rotational motion oflever 24 about a certain angle therefore results in an identicalrotation of outer shaft 29. Outer shaft 29, which is located coaxiallyaround outer axis 33, is supported in a rod-shaped arm sleeve 30, whichextends essentially horizontally and transversely to first and secondaxes 23 and 33.

Outer shaft 29 or outer axis 33 are located far from the wheel, that is,they are located on the side of the hub of wheel 11 opposite to inneraxis 23. Outer shaft 29 and second toothed ring 27 may be designed asone piece, or they may be composed of two separate yet interconnectedelements. Elements 25, 26, and 27 represent a first transfer element.

An inner lift shaft 31 is guided in outer shaft 29. Due to the passage53 described below, the arm sleeve or connecting body 30 is a sleeve,although it may also be a connecting body made of essentially solidmaterial. Lift shaft 31 is fixedly connected with an articulated carrier34 via a fixing screw 35. Two diametrically opposed pins 36, which arepositioned vertically with a minimum of play, are provided inarticulated carrier 34. Pins 36 are inserted in upper flange 37 of outershaft 29, and they are preferably secured in a press fit or with screws.

As a result of this connection, the rotation of outer shaft 29 istransferred directly to lift shaft 31. Lift shaft 31 is simultaneouslypositioned such that it may be moved up and so down along outer rotationaxis 33 given that a non-rotatable form-fit connection is providedbetween lift shaft 31 and outer shaft 29 in one region.

This translational reciprocating motion is brought about via articulatedcarrier 34, to which a forked pivoting lever 38 is hingedly connected.Pivoting lever 38 is attached to connecting body 30 with segments 39, onboth sides in this case. An actuating lever 32 extends past pivotinglever 38 along the rigid transverse axis defined by segments 39, therebyenabling actuating lever 32 to perform the reciprocating motion.

By way of brief reference to FIG. 2, it is shown that the two outermostshafts 29 (at the far left and right) are located at the bottom, asshown in FIG. 3, and therefore rest on flange 37. The two outer shafts29 shown in the middle are raised, however, i.e., article 15, which isbeing held with suction, is located in a much higher position than theother (outer) articles 15. An eccentric bush 41 with an adjustment screw42 tightens first belt 26 by exerting pressure on connecting body 30.

A central shaft 49 is mounted on arm sleeve 30 in the center. A thirdtoothed ring 45 is mounted on central shaft 49, in a central position.Third toothed ring 45 is rotatable around central shaft 49 and,therefore, central axis 43.

In this context, “central” refers to a location between axes 23 and 33on the free ends of connecting body 30. The location of third axis 43between first and second axes 23 and 33 does not necessarily mean alocation on the direct line between axes 23 and 33, but rather a thirdaxis 43, which may not be stationary, and which is located essentiallyin the region between axes 23 and 33.

Third toothed ring 45 is connected via a second belt 46 with a fourthtoothed ring 47, which is located coaxially around inner axis 23. Thirdtoothed ring 45 may be rotated using a lever 44, which is controllableusing a face cam. Since third toothed ring 45 is located on arm sleeve30 at a fixed distance from inner axis 23 in such a manner that it isrotatable around its main axis, but fourth toothed ring 47 is fixedlyconnected with fastening sleeve 21 and not with arm sleeve 30, whenlever 44 rotates, this induces a direct pivoting motion of arm sleeve 30and, therefore, entire arm 20 around the attachment point on centralwheel 11. Elements 45, 46 and 47 represent a second transfer element.

Lift shaft 31 is hollow in its lower to central part. It includes acavity 51, which is open at the bottom and is enclosed coaxially by ajacket. A flange 60 is provided on the lower section of lift shaft 31,on which a suction device or a gripper may be located, in a knownmanner. For simplicity, gripping device 60 will be discussed here.Reference is is made to FIG. 2, where a suction device 70 is located onflange 60.

The jacket of lift shaft 31 is also open on the side in the central partof lift shaft 31. Cavity 51 is therefore open on the side, as indicatedwith reference numeral 52. Cavity 51 is therefore in direct contact withpassage 53, which is positioned horizontally and is enclosed in armsleeve 30. Passage 53 transitions into tube connection 61, which, inthis case, is guided in the shape of an “L” to a not-shown vacuum pumpor related connections.

The transition between passage 53 and tube connection 61 is created byvacuum control sleeve 62, which includes a jacket that is open at thebottom but is closed everywhere else, and which includes at least onevacuum control opening 63. Vacuum control sleeve 62 is rotatablysupported in arm sleeve 30 and may be rotated upwardly via an actuatingbolt 64. Vacuum control sleeve 62 is closed in the position shown inFIG. 4.

Instead of the devices shown here for controlling a suction device 70,and instead of a preferred suction device 70, it is also possible toprovide another known type of gripping device.

In summary, the following motions may be carried out by each arm 20 of atransfer device 10: When lever 24 on inner axis 23 is driven, thisultimately results in a rotational motion of flange 60 with grippingdevice or suction device 70. In contrast, when lever 44 is pivoted—sincethe four toothed rings 25, 27 and 45, 47 all have the same diameter—thearm sleeve rotates back around the same angle, thereby making itpossible to easily adjust the orientation of outer axis 33 and,therefore, suction device 70 (viewed at the position of flange 60) inthree dimensions relative to the axis of wheel 11. Articles 15 to bepicked up may therefore be tracked very easily.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of transfer device 10 with twelve arms20 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Twelve arms 20 are movable in their horizontal plane, and they arehingedly connected to central wheel 11. Wheel 11 is rotatable around itsaxis, which is vertical in this case. One difference between the twoexemplary embodiments described here is central axis 43, which, in thiscase, is not fixed relative to arm sleeve 30. In addition, control isnot carried out via a knee joint 76, on which a fastening bolt 74 islocated off-center relative to arm sleeve, while the center of thearm—which has the same length in this case—of knee joint 76 is connectedwith actuating lever 80 via a bolt 77. Elements 76, 77, and 80 representa second transfer element, according to the second exemplary embodiment.

Further details of arms 20 are described in conjunction with FIGS. 6through 8. The same reference numerals are used in both exemplaryembodiments to describe identical components, even through the specificfeatures of the components may differ.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of transfer device 10 in FIG. 5, in anenlarged view, and with the four arms 20 shown in greater detail. Inparticular, transfer levers 80 are shown on each arm 20; this is anessential difference between the second exemplary embodiment and thefirst exemplary embodiment.

This is explained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8,which show, respectively, an exploded view and a cross-sectional view ofa single arm 20 according to FIG. 5.

The illustration presented in FIG. 7 shows fastening sleeve 21 of arm 20with one—in this case—of two fastening screws 22, with which fasteningsleeve 21 is attachable to central wheel 11. A motion of first toothedring 25 is transferred to a second toothed ring 27 in the same manner asdescribed in the first exemplary embodiment. This also applies for theconnection with the arm sleeve or connecting body 30 on outer axis 33.The translational reciprocating motion described above is also broughtabout, in this case, via articulated carrier 34, to which a forkedpivoting lever 38 is hingedly connected. Pivoting lever 38 is attachedto connecting body 30 with segments 39.

A holding insert 73 is non-rotatably inserted in an opening in fasteningsleeve 30. Holding insert 73 is fixedly connected with an arm 75oriented in the direction of outer axis 33. Holding insert 73 and arm 75may also be designed as one piece, of course. A slot 72 oriented betweentwo axes 23 and 33 is provided in arm 75. A pin 84 is inserted andguided in slot 72, and it engages in an arm of knee joint 76, whichtherefore may pivot. Slot 72 could also be integrated in fasteningsleeve 30, or it could be realized in an overhanging projection at thispoint.

Knee joint 76 is connected with transfer lever 80 via a bolt 77.Transfer lever 80 is therefore rotatable using an actuating bolt 74,which is provided on the other arm end of knee joint 76 and iscontrollable via a face cam. Since actuating bolt 74 is located suchthat it may pivot relative to arm sleeve 30 using the coupling via arm75 and knee joint 76, but transfer lever 80 is fixedly connected withfastening sleeve 21 in the region of axis 23, when actuating bolt 74rotates, the direct result is that arm sleeve 30 and, therefore, entirearm 20, pivot. Third central axis 43 is therefore realized at the pointwhere bolt 77 is located. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment,this bolt is not stationary. Instead, it changes its position when lever80 pivots and, in fact, in accordance with its angular position.

Lift shaft 31 is hollow in its lower to central part. It is thereforedesigned the same as in the first exemplary embodiment, up to tubeconnection 61. In this case, vacuum control sleeve 62 is opened with itsvacuum control opening 63 in the position shown in FIG. 8. Actuatingbolt 64 extends through an opening in transfer lever 80, to be grippedfrom above.

In summary, the following motions may be carried out by each arm 20 of atransfer device 10 as shown in FIGS. 5 through 8: When lever 24 on inneraxis 23 is driven, this ultimately results in a rotational motion offlange 60 with gripping device or suction device 70. In contrast, whenbolt 74 is pivoted, arm sleeve 30 rotates forward and backward around anangle, thereby making it possible to easily adjust the orientation ofouter axis 33 and, therefore, suction device (viewed at the position offlange 60) in three dimensions relative to the axis of wheel 11.Articles 15 to be picked up may therefore be tracked very easily.

As essential feature of all exemplary embodiments, which one skilled inthe art may expand upon based on the present invention, is that a wheel11 with a large number (twelve, in this case) arms 20 may quicklyreorient longitudinal articles that are conveyed at a high rate ofspeed, thereby enabling them to be conveyed with a relatively muchhigher rate of speed. There do not necessarily have to be twelve arms,of course. A different number of arms, e.g., eight arms 20 or sixteenarms 20 may also be used.

As evidenced by the descriptions above, the device is independent of thefurther means used in the packaging system. This applies to the type ofsupply conveyor belt and the actual picking device or the downstreamconveyor belt.

Instead of toothed rings 25, 27, 45 and 47, it is also possible to usedeflection rollers, with which belts 26, 46 must be under tension inorder to be driven. Instead of belts 26, 46, it is also possible to usechains or other driving elements with a form-fit or non-positiveconnection.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 Transfer device-   11 Central wheel-   12 Receptacle for an arm-   15 Longitudinal article-   20 Arm-   21 Fastening sleeve-   22 Fastening screw-   23 Inner axis-   24 Lever-   25 First toothed ring-   26 First drive belt-   27 Second toothed ring-   28 Inner shaft-   29 Outer shaft-   30 Arm sleeve, connecting body-   31 Lift shaft-   32 Actuating lever-   33 Outer axis-   34 Articulated carrier-   35 Fixing screw-   36 Pin-   37 Flange-   38 Pivoting lever-   39 Segment-   41 Eccentric bush-   42 Adjustment screw-   43 Central axis-   44 Lever-   45 Third toothed ring-   46 Second belt-   47 Fourth toothed ring-   49 Central shaft-   51 Cavity-   52 Side opening-   53 Passage-   60 Flange-   61 Tube connection-   62 Vacuum control sleeve-   63 Vacuum control opening-   64 Actuating bolt-   70 Suction device-   72 Slot-   73 Holding insert-   74 Actuating bolt-   75 Arm-   76 Knee joint-   77 Bolt-   80 Transfer lever-   84 Pin

1. A transfer device (10) for gripping articles (15) from a first feedconveyor, which points in a first direction, and for subsequentlyplacing the articles (15) on a second, removing conveyor that points ina second direction and is composed of a central wheel body (11), whichrotates in a plane of rotation, on the periphery (12) of which a largenumber of arms (20) is hingedly connected such that the arms (20) arecapable of being swiveled (21) around a first axis (23), which isperpendicular to the plane of rotation, each of the arms (20) includingat least one gripping device (60, 70), with which at least one article(15) may be received; each arm (20) also has a second axis (33), whichis parallel to the first axis, with a sleeve (31) on which the grippingdevice (60, 70) is mounted being located on the second axis (33), thesleeve (31) being rotatable for a specified orientation of the articles(15), wherein each movable arm (20) is designed as a connecting body(30), which is rotatable about the first axis (23); the rotationalmotion of the gripper device (60, 70) is transferrable from a shaft (28)located in the first (23) with the aid of a transfer element (25, 26,27) to a sleeve (31), which rotates around a second axis (33) betweenthe first and second axes (23, 33); and a controlled rotational motionof the connecting body (30) is transferrable via a shaft (49, 77)located in the third axis (43) with the aid of a second transfer element(45, 46, 47; 76, 77, 80) to an element (21; 47, 80) that is attachableto the central wheel body (11) and is positioned such that it may rotatecoaxially around the first axis (23).
 2. The device as recited in claim1, wherein the wheel body (11) is driveable with a constant rotationalspeed.
 3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the gripping device(60, 70) is displaceable on the second axis (33) in a translatory manneralong the second axis (33), the gripping device (60) being connectedwith the second axis (33) in a non-positive or form-fit manner.
 4. Thedevice as recited in claim 3, wherein the gripping device (60, 70) ismovable in a translatory manner using a lever (32) controlled via apivoted link guide.
 5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein thegripping device (60, 70) is a suction device (70).
 6. The device asrecited in claim 5, wherein the connecting body (30) includes a cavity(53), and the gripping device (60) is a sleeve (31) that is connectedwith the cavity (53), thereby making it possible to connect an element(61) close to the wheel with the suction device in order to create avacuum.
 7. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein a valve (62) isprovided at the transition from the cavity (53) in the connecting body(30) to the element (61) close to the wheel; the valve (62) may beswitched by an actuating element (64) provided on the connecting body(30).
 8. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the third axis (43)is located between the first (23) and second (33) axis, in a positionbetween ⅓ and ⅔ the distance between the two, and preferably in thecenter.
 9. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the third axis (43)is rotatable using a lever (44) controlled via a face cam.
 10. Thedevice as recited in claim 1, wherein the position of the third axis(43) is changeable depending on the rotation of the element (21; 47,80).
 11. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the transfer elements(25, 26, 27 and 45, 46, 47) are deflection rollers or toothed rings,which are interconnected via drive belts or toothed belts.
 12. Thedevice as recited in claim 11, wherein the deflection rollers or toothedrings are designed to be identical to each other.
 13. The device asrecited in claim 11, wherein the belt tension of the first transferelement (25, 26, 27) is adjustable using an eccentric bush (41, 42)located on the second axis (33).
 14. The device as recited in claim 1,wherein the conveyors are conveyor belts or conveyor chains with driverslocated at intervals thereon.
 15. The device as recited in claim 1,wherein the supply conveyor and the removing conveyor form an angle of90 degrees.
 16. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the positivecontrol of the first transfer element (25, 26, 27) via a lever (24) isdesigned to maintain the orientation of the longitudinal articles whilethey are being transferred from the supply conveyor to the removingconveyor.
 17. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the positivecontrol of the second transfer element (45, 46, 47; 76, 77, 80) via alever (76) is designed to maintain the orientation of the longitudinalarticles while they are being transferred from the supply conveyor tothe removing conveyor.